Dread
/drɛd/noun
A feeling of great fear or apprehension.
Did you know?The word 'dread' is linked to the Old English 'drædan', which also invoked a sense of trembling fear—an emotional response thought to connect to the supernatural!
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*dʰreǵ-
“to tremble or shake, indicating fear or apprehension.”
Old English
Old English
drædan
“to fear, to be afraid, or to tremble in fear.”
Middle English
Middle English
dreden
“to dread or be in fear of something impending.”
Modern English
English
dread
“to experience a deep fear or apprehension, often associated with the unknown.”
Explore more surprising origins